Group On

Whether you’re looking for new things to do with your girlfriends or are interested in expanding your social circle, now is a great time to start planning fall events. A wide and varied group of friends helps us live a more interesting and balanced life. Here are some great ideas to get you going.

ALL BOOKED UP
If you enjoy reading and want to make it more social, consider forming a book club. Pull a group of friends together and take turns hosting monthly gatherings, with the host choosing the next book. (Keep in mind that book clubs can be more about the club than the book, so don’t be surprised if you don’t always get around to discussing the book.) When choosing books, you can always call in the professionals. Diane’s Books off Greenwich Avenue has knowledgeable staff who are happy to make selections that fit your club’s reading style.

Not sure you can pull a group of friends together to talk books? You’re in the right town to find fellow readers. Our local libraries host a number of book clubs.

Perrot Library runs the Greenwich Pen Women/Perrot Book Discussion Group. It is free and open to the public but limited to twenty attendees. Pre-registration and copies of the book are available at the Library’s Circulation Desk or call 203-637-1066, ext. 15 to register.

Greenwich Reads Together, the town book club organized through the Greenwich Library, has chosen News of the World as the 2017 selection. Discussions will take place at schools and local libraries this fall. In addition, the Greenwich Library hosts a number of genre- specific clubs such as the Fiction Addiction Book Group, Foreign Affairs Book Discussion Group, Friends Book Group, Great Books Discussion Group and more. The Byram Shubert Library holds three groups: Byram Book Club, International Book Club and the Proust Book Group.

Cos Cob Library groups include Brown Bag Book Discussion Group, Cloak and Dagger Book Club and Thursday Evening Book Club.

TV CLUB
Even the most dedicated bookworms like to indulge in a little easy entertainment once in a while. Between streaming services and DVRs, entire seasons of great television are at your fingertips. If the show is streamable, meet weekly and anyone who misses a meeting can catch up on their own. Encourage members not to watch ahead; you don’t need anyone telling you what hodor means an episode too early (Game of Thrones reference). Be sure to pick a show everyone can enjoy and don’t be a snob. A season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills will not reduce your IQ discernibly and may prompt some interesting discussions and provide laughs along the way.

Don’t think you can pull a weekly group together? Plan a marathon night. The second season of Netflix’s cult hit Stranger Things arrives at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, October 31, and sounds like a great Halloween binge party to me.

NEW GIRL?
The Greenwich Newcomers Club has been welcoming residents for over fifty years. The Club offers a variety of events like a Ladies Night Out, Lunch Bunch and Recipe Group. I have numerous friends who made their first friends in town this way and established lifelong friendships. greenwichnewcomersclub.wildapricot.org

BUDDING FRIENDSHIP
If you like getting dirt under your nails, you’re in good company. Greenwich women like to garden, and there are a number of clubs in town that bring together a cross section of ages united by a passion for plants. The Garden Education Center of Greenwich is an excellent place to start and offers programs, events and garden tours. gecgreenwich.org

THE BIG CITY
The most amazing city in the world is just a short train or Über ride away. Take advantage of all that the city has to offer by creating a NYC club. Friends interested in spending a day or evening in the city once a month take turns planning an itinerary. Kick off your club with a trip to a Broadway show or take in the Chihuly exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden. Other ideas include museum shows, walking tours, High-Line treks or a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.

TOAST OF THE TOWN
If you have a group of girlfriends who love wine, this is a great way to get together. A number of local wine stores can make suggestions, offer tastings and host special events. Putnam & Vine offers wine tasting classes with certified sommelier Angela Demmel.

In a town that has everything, we even have our own wine society. The Greenwich Wine Society attracts novice and experienced wine drinkers alike interested in learning and sampling new wines. Open to men and women, this club offers such events as tastings, wine cruises, winemaker events, seminars and more. greenwichwinesociety.com

The Old Greenwich Wine Club features tastings throughout the year at destinations and sit-down meals at members’ homes. Michael Rose keeps members entertained and educated through his informative newsletters highlighting club events like the Beaujolais and Red Wines from Loire at Cook and Craft in O.G. Membership is as easy as emailing Michael to get on the list. 33mdrose@gmail.com

GET TO THE POINT
Needlepointers from beginner to advanced flock to The Village Ewe. And for good reason. The Old Greenwich needlepoint supply shop hosts workshops several days a week and on some evenings. Participants can bring their own canvas and stitch together. There is no fee, but reservations are required. Brand new to needlepoint? The Learn the Basics course includes a monogram pillow; all materials and unlimited workshop time for $200.